February 21, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Secretariate Head Koike Akira on February 20 protested against North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles several days in a row.

Koike at a press conference in the Diet building pointed out that North Korea's escalating military provocations "are threatening peace and security in East Asia and the rest of the world and violating a series of UN Security Council resolutions banning all activities related to North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles development".

Koike also pointed out that North Korea's acts "are exposing civil airplanes, ships, and the lives of local residents to danger and are not internationally accepted."

Regarding the Kishida government's attempt to allow Japan to possess the capability to preemptively attack enemy missile bases, Koike stated that a military response will not resolve North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile test issue and will only increase military tensions in the region.

He said, "It is important for the international community to work together to have North Korea sit at the negotiating table and discuss how to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."